More about me...

Hi, I’m Mel. I’m a novelist, screenwriter and blogger, with a passion for challenging social norms. Recently, I’ve mostly been trying to edit my second novel (Paper Cuts) whilst getting distracted by writing fun short stories and blog posts instead. Paper Cuts is also a screenplay, so I'll be going back to edit that again when the novel is finished. Then I want to write another screenplay set in the 90's featuring awesome music.

I like yoga, cooking and cinema. I dislike most things on television, most pop stars, most children, most pets and…well, most people. Though I can be a nice person, honest.

Here's some more random, uninteresting facts about me:

My favourite food is pizza, and also pasta. I love chocolate too, but not Nestle. It tastes like shit, and Yorkie's are sexist.

My favourite films are The Rocky Horror Show, The Blues Brothers, The Princess Bride, The Breakfast Club and The Little Shop of Horrors. Yes, they're all cheesy. My general films of choice are now way more arty but nostalgia always wins in top 5's. Also, Jurassic Park. Slightly less cheesy?

My music taste is stuck in the 90's - Nirvana, Ash, Placebo, Skunk Anansie, Foo Fighters, Deftones, System of a Down, Incubus.....the list could go on.

I love going to gigs, and last year Tim Wheeler from Ash hugged me. That was one of the greatest moments of my life, which says a lot for my life.

Like the typical writer cliche, I have an unhealthy love for strong coffee.

Enough of that. Back to the slightly more sensible stuff...​I’m part of an awesome writing group called Stokes Croft Writers and we run a bi-monthly storytelling night in Bristol called Talking Tales. If you live in Bristol (or if you just feel like travelling really far), come along and check it out - it usually involves badges and booze!

Why I started writing about body positivity and gender equality

Many of the things I write are a bit edgy or are making a point about society, which often regular publishers aren't looking for. I'm aware that my views can impact on how I tell stories so maybe sometimes they are seen as too opinionated, political, gritty, or even too feminist. I've written stories about characters with eating disorders, bisexual characters, stories about girls losing their virginity, stories of domestic violence, all because I feel they need to be told. Yet I appreciate that not everywhere wants to publish this stuff. One of the reasons I set up the original 'Freesized' website was to have a platform to rant about this sort of stuff and publish my own stories without having to try to be a crowd-leaser all the time.

In the end, 'Freesized' became a lot of work, and I decided to focus on writing my screenplay and novel, which is why it has now been integrated into this website - check out the Freesized Blog page. I used to write a monthly body image column for Zusterschap, but they're currently updating their website.

​I won't pretend to be an expert when it comes to body positivity or feminism, I'm still on quite a learning journey myself. Some people might not even think I'm a feminist - I recently got kicked out of a feminist group! I've been 'different' all my life - bullied at school and given a hard time by a lot of people, but I think I've learnt a lot from that. I fought a battle with food for years, and am just trying to find some peace within myself and my life, like so many other people out there. I set up 'Freesized' as I'm keen to share my experiences with food, illness, bullies, body image, and much more, and would like to encourage others to do the same. If we speak up together and take a stand we can try to change our perceptions about body image for generations to come.

I know there are a lot of body-positive websites popping up now, but I'm pleased to be one of many. The media is a strong and powerful force in our society, and the more of us who can contribute positivity and creativity to the world the better..